Attachment for steering mechanisms.



R. L. WOOD.

ATTACHMENT FOR STEERING MECHANISMS.

APPLICATION FILED am. 28. 1914.

Zara/[Ilium WITNESSES l/VVE/VTOR W P0 L Woac/ A TTOR/I/EVS COLUMBIAPLANOGRAPH c0. WASHINGTON, u. c.

' ROY-L. swoon, or rwssnnn, Kansas,-

ASSIGNOR TOWOCD eno'rnnns, or nnssnnn, KANSAS. a

ATTACHMENT FOR srnnnime' iinoiiamsms.

To all whom it may concern v Be it known that I, RoYL."Wooo, a c1t1- zenof the United States, and a resident oi Russell, in the county ofRussell and State of Kansas, have invented a newand Improved Attachmentfor Steermg Mechanisms, of whichthe, following is a full, clear,andexact description.

My invention relates to an attachment for steering mechanisms forvehicles of the selfpropelling type; and has reference more particularlyto means tending to maintain the steering mechanism in neutral position.

An object of the invention is to provide a 1:

simple, strong and inexpensive device which will not require anyalteration in the steer ing mechanism of a self-propelled vehicle whenapplied thereto, and which contrivance can be easily and quicklyattached to the steering mechanism.

Another object oi the invention is to pro vide an attachment ofthe classdescribed which will reduce the shocks onthe steering wheel and whichwill automatically re-- store the steering mechanism to neutral po-.

sition. I

With the above and other objects in view,

the nature of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds,the invention consists .in the novel construction, combi nation andarrangement of parts as herein fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of the application, similarcharacters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views,and Figure 1 is a plan view of a part of a steering mechanism of aself-pro pelled vehicle which is provided with an embodiment of myinvention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the attachment partly sectionalizedto show the details of construction; and Fig. is a cross section on line33, Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 4 represents the axle of an automobileprovided with the customary steering knuckles 5, the arms 6 of which areinterconnected by a tie-bar 7, the arm controlling the movement of theknuckles and the rods from the steering column not being shown.

Carried by the tie-bar 7 is a T-shaped arm 8, preferably secured theretoby means of clamps 9, substantially midway between the ends of thetie-bar. The part forming the shoulders of the bar is recessed at oneface Specification of Letters latent.

t I patents? a 19162.

Application filed October 28, 1914. Serial No 868,995. i v v to conformto the shape of the bar, so as to provide a better grip between the armand the bar. T hemain part of the arm 8 extends toward the axle, whereit projects through longitudinal slots 10 provided in a tubular member11 secured to the axle 4 by clamps 12 7 or any other suitable means.member 11 extends transversely of the-T and is preferably centraltherewith when the steering mechanism is in neutral positiohl Thetubular The slots-10 ;will permit a longitudinal and transversemovementof the arm 8 relative to the tubular-member 11.

Positionedwithin"the' tubular member 11" on, each side-of the arm 8 isacoil spring" 13,

one end of which abuts against alcap 14secured to the end of the tubularmember. The

other end of the coil spring abuts against a stop or stops 15 inalinement with the arm 8 and ofthesame width,'-=so thatthe arnrS anyfreely move transversely of the tubular member. The end of each spring,adjacent the stop 15, is preferably provided with a wearing member 16which engages the stops 15.

As the steering knuckles 5 are actuated by the'steering wheel of thesteering mechanism therewith the arm 8 moves bodily longitudinally andtransversely of the tubular memv ber 11 which is stationary relative tosaid arm 8. Accordingto the direction of move ment of the tie-bar 7 thecorresponding coil spring 13 will be compressed, the other springremaining undisturbed bythe engage ment of its working end 16 with thestop. As the steering wheel is released, the engaged coilspring 13 willforce the arm 8 to its nor- -mal position and therewith the tie-bar 7,consequently restoring the steering mechanism to its neutral position.This attachment will keep the vehicle in a straight direction in casethe steering gear becomes broken or unmanageable, or when the steeringgear is released by the driver of the vehicle. It will further serve asa shock absorber between the steering wheel and the road wheel, thesprings 13 serving as buffers and eliminating all shocks from thesteering wheel. It will make the driving easier, especially with thereversible type of steering gear, as thesteering wheel need be graspedfirmly only in making turns. My attachment is a safeguard againstaccithe tie bar 7 moves relative to the axle 4 and.

dent, as it will prevent the vehicle from" swerving one way .or theother under the action of the surfaceof the road over which the vehicleis traveling when the steering mechanism is out of control.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the advantage of the construction and operationof the device shown will be readily understood by those skilled in theart to which the invention pertains, and while I have described theprinciple of operation, together with the device which I now consider tobe the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that thedevice shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made asare within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. The combination with a steering mechanism having a tie-bar, of an armprojecting laterally from said bar and adapted to participate in all themovements of said bar, a tubular member having longitudinal slotsengaged by said arm, said tubular member being stationary, coil springsin said tubular member one on each side of said arm, and means in saidtubular member normally preventing the engagement of said resilientmembers with said arm whereby said arm is free to move transversely ofsaid tubular member but resisted in the longitudinal movement of saidtubular member by said coil springs substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination, a steering mechanism having a tie-bar, an anXlehaving steering knuckles connected to the tie-bar, a T-shaped armcarried by the tie-bar and adapted to participate in all the movementsof the bar, a tubular member carried by the axle, said tubular memberhaving longitudinal slots engaged by said arm, compression coil springsin said tubular member, one on each side of said arm, stops normallyengaging the ends of the springs adjacent the arm and preventing thecontact of said ends of the springs with said arm, and means for movingsaid tie-bar relative to said aXle substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ROY L. WOOD.

Witnesses:

EDWIN W. VooRHIs, MINNIE B. OLsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). G.

